WELSH golfer Phil Price has made a dream start on his US Masters debut.

WELSH golfer Phil Price has made a dream start on his US Masters debut.

Price enjoyed a fine opening round to card a one-under-par 71 at Augusta and finish the first day in the top 10 of the leader board.

The 38-year-old Pontypridd golfer grabbed two early birdies - at the par-three fourth and par-five eighth - and then produced a consistent round before bogeying the 18th.

But Price was much happier than he feared he might be after his practice rounds.

"I thought everybody was going to struggle," said the Welsh Ryder Cup hero.

Wales' other golfing star and former Masters winners Ian Woosnam finished four-over-par, after dropping shots on the sixth, ninth, 17th and 18th.

Price was part of a strong European challenge on the opening day, with Englishman Justin Rose heading the field with a superb 67 giving him a two-shot lead over Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas.

Rose, whose professional career began with 21 successive missed cuts lasting almost 12 months, is trying to do what no first round leader of the Masters has done since Ben Crenshaw 20 years ago. Win.

Seven years ago Tiger Woods opened with a front nine 40 and went on to triumph by a record 12 strokes. He opened with a 40 yesterday, but nobody is expecting him to do the same.

The world number one's swing problems were there for all to see in the 14 holes he managed before play, halted for two hours by a thunderstorm, was called off.

World number three Ernie Els was also among those affected.

He had joined DiMarco and Haas, but in the gathering gloom bogeyed the 17th after finding sand with his second.

Rose was not the only European to shine. Far from it.

Darren Clarke, leader by three after his initial 66 last year, had a 70 for joint fourth place and achieved it despite drawing comments from the gallery about his bright pink and white striped trousers - complete with white turn-ups.

"Most people liked them," he said.

German Alex Cejka is also two under (with one to play) and Colin Montgomerie and Price would have been alongside them but for closing bogey fives.

Debutant Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer was another of only 11 players to break par yesterday, while 1988 champion Sandy Lyle was in the group on 72.